Italy: Berlusconi Says Markets May Be Shut

Oct. 10: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi claimed that the US government may shut down the financial markets due to the credit freeze and the falling of the stock market. He claimed that it may be shut down while the rules of international policies are rewritten. This was revealed at a g7 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers. Later that day Berlusconi reveresed the comments he had made in Napels about the US shutting down the markets. White House Spokesman Tony Fratto said, "There are absolutely no plans or discussions to interfere with the functioning of markets in the United States."

Andrew Edelman